LaBelle is a small city in southwestern Florida that serves as the county seat of Hendry County, situated along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. Its population was about 4,970 at the 2020 census. The city became the county seat in 1923, and it has since anchored a rural county whose economy is built on agriculture and ranching. LaBelle's setting sits between two defining Florida landscapes: Lake Okeechobee to the east and the wetlands of the northern Everglades to the south. The Caloosahatchee River, which flows through the city on its way from the lake toward the Gulf of Mexico, is central to local identity, providing water access, scenic views, and a focus for community gatherings. The city's main street is shaded by mature oak trees, and its small downtown holds historic buildings that reflect its early 20th-century growth. Agriculture shapes the local economy and way of life. Citrus, sugarcane, and cattle ranching are longstanding industries in Hendry County, and LaBelle functions as the commercial and governmental hub for the surrounding farm and ranch country. The city's signature event, the Swamp Cabbage Festival, is held each February and celebrates the Florida state tree — the sabal, or cabbage palm — with a parade, rodeo, armadillo races, and festivities in Barron Park along the river. For residents, LaBelle offers a genuinely small-town, rural Florida lifestyle. Schools are part of the Hendry County district, everyday services concentrate around the city, and the surrounding region provides fishing, boating, hunting, and access to the Okeechobee and Everglades ecosystems. It appeals to those seeking a quieter, more agricultural pace in the interior of southwest Florida, away from the coastal cities.